Inequality, Lower Real Wages and Single Parenthood

[question everything]

Thank you, Congresswoman DeLauro for you letter published today in the WSJ:

In arguing that the best solution to ending poverty in America is for more people to get married, Ari Fleischer trots out a hoary conservative cliché that hasn't become any more true or useful in the many decades that Republicans have been repeating it ("How to Fight Income Inequality: Get Married," op-ed, Jan. 13).

The main reason families are struggling is because a rising tide no longer lifts all boats. For decades now, and even in the midst of soaring productivity and profits, paychecks have stagnated. As a percentage of GDP, 2012 saw higher corporate profits after taxes and lower wages and salaries than ever before. In short, American workers are being squeezed. Along with stagnant wages, their benefits have been cut, their job security has been weakened and their wage and hour protections have been violated. Blaming these trends on the marriage rate is a non sequitur.

Compounding the economic hardship for families, whether women are single, divorced, separated or married, they are too often not being paid what they are due. Women now make up half the workforce but comprise two out of three workers making the minimum wage, and are still being paid only 77 cents on the dollar, on average, compared with men. Partly as a result, one in three working families in America don't make enough to guarantee a decent living standard, even though the parents are working every single day.

To end poverty in America, we should create jobs and ensure workers are being paid a fair and rising wage. As Mr. Fleischer surely must know, wishing more single mothers were married, in addition to being demeaning to women, is neither productive nor relevant to the discussion.

Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro (D, Conn.)

New Haven, Conn.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304149404579326511880651656

(If you cannot open at the click, try copy and paste the title onto google)

[NutmegYankee]

1. "The main reason families are struggling is because a rising tide no longer lifts all boats."

Now that needed to be said!